Russia is said to have used vacuum bombs or thermobaric bombs to attack parts of Ukraine. The Ukrainian government reported this to the United States (US).
There has been no official confirmation that thermobaric weapons will or have been used in the conflict in Ukraine. CNN reported that one of its journalists spotted a TOS-1 thermobaric multiple rocket launcher near the Ukrainian border on Saturday (2/26) afternoon.
So, how does Russia's vacuum bomb work?
Vacuum bombs or thermobaric weapons work by sucking up the surrounding oxygen to produce a high-temperature explosion. Vacuum bombs come in several sizes, from rocket-propelled grenades for close combat to large versions that can be launched from fighter jets.
The US used thermobaric bombs during Vietnam War 2 in 1955, while the Soviet Union used these weapons during the war in Afghanistan in 1979.
The explosive power of a thermobaric bomb is so mighty that it produces a plasma cloud that reaches temperatures between 2,500-3000 Celsius and creates a high-temperature explosion that lasts longer than regular bombs.
In addition to the vacuum explosion, the bomb is very dangerous; this bomb also emits a harmful substance, ethylene oxide.
Ethylene oxide is a gas used as a sterilizing agent which is highly toxic when it comes into contact with the human body. Victims exposed to this substance can experience sunburn and have problems with the lungs and digestion.
Russia's alleged use of thermobaric munitions is the use of Shmel's single-use RPO-A rocket launchers and thermobaric rockets for the RPG-7 family of weapons, the JMVH report said.